The first floor wasn’t receiving any patients at this hour, the lights were dim and there weren’t many people around, making it seem rather eerie.
Hannah Sue took the elevator directly up to the fourth floor. Upon exiting, she found herself at a "T" junction, with only one direction accessible. Hannah walked to the corner and imdiately saw the nurses’ station situated between the rooms at both ends of the corridor. Two young nurses chatted away while organizing the docunts in their hands.
Outside the corridor, there was the sound of a baby’s crying, as the mother cradled the fussy infant, trying to coax him to sleep.
Hannah walked past the nurse’s station, and right next to it was the duty office.
The door was open. She pretended to be passing by and peeked into the office, finding it empty.
Just as she was about to turn back and ask the two nurses, she realized they had each pushed a cart and were off doing rounds.
With a sigh, Hannah sat down on the chair by the corridor.
She reached into her bag and took out her phone, checking it, yet still, no one was looking for her.
A wave of disappointnt washed over her as she thought perhaps the family she believed she had never truly considered her as one of them...
Now she couldn’t find them nor could she stay at a hotel.
And Evan Sutton wasn’t too fond of her either; even if she did find him, he probably wouldn’t care for her. He might even find her persistent presence annoying...
No matter where she went, she always seed like an unnecessary existence.
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, shielding her cries with her backpack to hide the tears that wouldn’t stop falling.
Not far away, a hospital room door was pushed open, and a man in a white coat stood by the door, gently explaining to a parent, "The child is recovering well, and if nothing unusual turns up, they will be discharged after tomorrow’s check-up in the morning."
"Alright, thank you, Dr. Sutton."
"Mm, the child is asleep, so you should get so rest too. Call if there’s anything later."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work."
Evan Sutton ca out of the room, glanced at the paper in his hand, and was about to go back to the office when he noticed a lone, slightly despondent girl sitting on the bench not far away.
The girl, her head hung low, was hiding her face behind a backpack, yet he found her sowhat familiar.
Frowning, he walked over and gently tapped her on the shoulder.
Hannah suddenly lifted her head, her vision blurred by tears, staring at the man standing in front of her, montarily doubting if she was mistaken, she quickly wiped her eyes...
After Hannah raised her head, Evan Sutton confird he hadn’t made a mistake, but he was puzzled by her presence here, especially with tears streaming down her face...
"What brings you here?"
Hannah, for so reason, stared at Evan Sutton, tears falling even more intensely, not caring about her image, crying with heartfelt sorrow.
Anyone would think sothing serious happened to her family, and Dr. Sutton was comforting the patient’s family.
Evan Sutton searched his clothes pocket and handed her a tissue. Once she had cried enough and her emotions cald, he asked, "When did you arrive?"
Hannah sniffled and replied, "...Just now."
Evan Sutton: "Why did you co?"
Hannah lifted her eyes to glance at Evan Sutton, seemingly checking if he was displeased, but finding his expression neutral, she answered honestly in a muffled voice, "To find you."
Evan Sutton sighed in resignation, evidently at his wit’s end with her.
"Dr. Sutton, the patient in bed number five is having so breathing issues; could you check it out?"
Evan Sutton turned to the nurse calling him, nodded, and said, "Okay."
Watching Evan Sutton walk away quickly, Hannah sat on the bench, wiped her tears on her clothes sleeve, picked up her backpack, and headed towards the room Evan had just gone to. Standing at the door, she watched him calmly and gently examine the child’s condition.
After the nurse inserted the oxygen tube for the child, the two ca out.
Evan Sutton glanced at Hannah standing outside the door and instructed the nurse beside him, "Co back to change the dication again in ten minutes."
The nurse nodded, "Okay."
And pushed the cart to the next room.
Evan Sutton gently closed the hospital room door and said to Hannah, "I’m working and can’t keep you company."
Hannah sniffled and said, "I know, I just... wanted to see you."
Thinking about how she had found the place alone at night, Evan Sutton couldn’t bring himself to scold her.
Moreover, watching her cry alone earlier, he wondered what could have happened.
She wasn’t the kind of person to cry in a corner because she couldn’t find soone.
"Are you planning to stay at the hospital?"
Feeling like she had done sothing wrong, Hannah lowered her head and said, "...I don’t know where to go; I can’t stay at a hotel without my ID."
Evan Sutton: "You dared to co here alone, but didn’t consider these things?"
With an aggrieved expression, Hannah explained in a mumble, "...I ran away from ho; I had an argunt with them."
As she ntioned this, Hannah’s eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears again.
Seeing her genuinely upset, Evan Sutton didn’t know what else to say, hesitated for a mont, and said, "Follow ."
Hannah was stunned for a mont, then followed Evan Sutton into the office.
She stood by the door, watching Evan Sutton go inside and take out a set of keys from the drawer, handing them to her, "The black key is for the room."
Hannah took the keys with so confusion and then saw Evan Sutton jot down a series of numbers with a pen: "This is where I’m currently staying. Go right when you leave the hospital. Walk straight until you find the first bus stop, and you’ll see the community. If you can’t find the exact address, you can ask the security guard at the entrance. I’m on duty and can’t leave the post; can you find your way?"
Hannah processed for a mont, then asked, "...Am I going to stay at your place?"
With a hint of exasperation, Evan Sutton replied, "Or do you plan to spend the night on a bench outside?"
Hannah: "...No, I’m afraid of causing you trouble... Maybe you could lend your ID so I can book a hotel room."
Evan Sutton: "If you’re worried about bothering , you shouldn’t have co to find . Do you think they’d let you book a room with my ID without present? Take the keys and go; I’m off at six in the morning. There’s no one ho tonight."
"...Thank you."
Evan Sutton: "Take care on the way."
"...Oh."
As Hannah turned and picked up the note and keys, Evan Sutton, still uneasy, called after her, "Give your phone."
She stopped and turned around, obediently handing her phone over, watching Evan Sutton input a series of numbers and save it in her contacts, then handing it back, "Call if anything happens."
A wave of emotion overca Hannah, feeling inexplicably grateful. She thought Evan Sutton wouldn’t care for her either, but it turns out this man, whom she’d only seen a few tis, seed more concerned than her so-called family.
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